Public Statements

Boehner Column: Washington's Taxing & Spending is Making it Harder for Americans to Find Work

Statement

Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following column discussing the president's budget:

"After a long delay, the White House has announced that President Obama will finally release his budget on April 10. So far the preview we're getting is not good.

"With millions of American families struggling in this weak economy, I had hoped that President Obama would use this opportunity -- like President Clinton did -- to work across the aisle and balance the budget. Sadly, media reports indicate the president's budget will not balance. Ever.

"What it reportedly will do is make modest entitlement savings conditional upon another round of tax hikes. This would be a step in the wrong direction, making savings we agree upon conditional on another round of tax increases.

"If President Obama believes -- as Republicans do -- that responsible reforms are needed to shore up programs like Social Security, there's no reason why they should be held hostage for more tax hikes. Tax increases will impede economic growth and make balance and job creation harder.

"In all, it's been reported that President Obama's budget will reduce the deficit by a meager $600 billion over the next 10 years. Currently, the budget deficit for this year alone is a projected $845 billion. Given that the president's budget will reportedly increase taxes by at least $600 billion, it appears that there will be no net spending cuts. That means any deficit reduction under the president's plan would come solely from tax hikes.

"Fortunately for American families who know that spending is the problem, Republicans are offering an altogether different approach. Last month we passed a balanced budget in the House that cuts wasteful spending, unleashes North American energy like Keystone, and fixes our broken tax code. We've also acted twice in the House to replace President Obama's sequester with smarter cuts and reforms that protect our national security.

"As the minority party in Washington, House Republicans take our responsibility to offer alternative solutions seriously because we know that a budget isn't just abstract lines on paper. A budget is a blueprint, and it's an opportunity to help grow our economy and expand opportunity for everyone.

"And after five years of massive deficits, tax hikes, and big government takeovers, it's clear that our alternative vision of freedom and opportunity is desperately needed. Every day we continue to learn more about how ObamaCare is increasing costs and making it harder for small businesses to hire. Hundreds of thousands fled the workforce last month and unemployment remains far above what the Obama administration promised when it enacted its "stimulus' spending plan.

"We're not optimistic, because the reason President Obama's budget has all these problems is that the president fundamentally believes more government and more spending is the solution to all our nation's challenges -- but it's not too late for him to follow the House and outline a balanced budget. One that includes entitlement reforms that are not conditional on enactment of more tax increases, which will suppress growth instead of encourage it.

"After all, President Obama already missed the February legal deadline to submit his budget. Why not take a little more time to get it right?"Boehner represents Ohio's 8th District, which includes all of Butler, Clark, Darke, Miami, and Preble counties, and the southernmost part of Mercer County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.